Ashley Grimes bagged a brace as Rochdale won their League One basement battle against Wycombe.

The result lifted Dale out of the bottom four as they swapped placed with Gary Waddock’s side, who lost for the second time in five days.

Rochdale dominated from the off, Stephen Darby’s crosses from the right posing all kinds of problems for the Wycombe defence. Chairboys skipper Nikki Bull pulled off a fine save to keep out David Ball’s close-range header while Ashley Grimes flashed a volley wide of the upright.

But for all Rochdale’s threat going forward they looked vulnerable at the back and their defensive frailties were exposed in the sixth minute when Wycombe edged ahead with their first attack.

Scott Donnelly drifted through the midfield, exchanged passes with Stuart Beavon and carried the ball round Jake Kean before stabbing home from a tight angle.

The hosts deservedly levelled in the 20th minute when Nicky Adams and Ball combined to set up Grimes and he fired past Bull from 10 yards.

Ball went close when he struck a low drive across the face of Bull’s goal, while the visitors tested Kean with a long-range free-kick from Andy Sandell.

The home side took the lead in the 66th minute with a route one goal. Kean’s kick bounced over the heads of the Wycombe backline and Grimes was on to it quickly, lifting a finish over the stranded Bull and into the net.